Weekly Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) Bulletin

Announcements

Commerce requested comments on Nov. 27 for potential rules concerning compliance requirements. These responses have been posted to the CETA website. Thanks to stakeholders for their comments!

Dec. 6 comments due on low-income energy assistance programs

Following our low-income and equity workshop held on Nov. 4, Commerce is requesting feedback on questions about the implementation of RCW 19.405.120. Commerce has posted a guidance document for feedback. Comments are due Dec. 6.

Dec. 12 workshop in Seattle

Commerce’s Dec. 12 workshop will address reporting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions for electric utilities. RCW 19.405.070 requires each utility report a “greenhouse gas content” calculation for the electricity that it uses to serve Washington customers. Commerce will be developing emissions reporting rules to parallel those of the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), which cover investor-owned electric utilities. The UTC has published draft amendments in Docket UE-190652. This work also involves the Department of Ecology, and all three agencies will participate in this workshop.

Dec. 16 public hearing on Phase 1 proposed rules

Phase 1 of the rulemaking process moves into its final steps with a public hearing and formal comment opportunity at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec., 16 in Commerce’s Olympia office.

Hearing details are in the proposed rule package posted on Commerce’s CETA webpage. These rules will establish social cost of greenhouse gas emissions and incorporate federal incremental hydro eligibility. Thanks to stakeholders for their comments, questions and suggestions!

Commerce and UTC will convene a discussion of GHG cost methods

The Utilities and Transportation Commission and the Department of Commerce will convene a joint workshop on Jan. 16, 2020 to discuss methods for implementing the new requirement to incorporate greenhouse gas pollution costs in resource planning, evaluation and selection [RCW 19.280.030(3)]. Details will be provided later.

Commerce and UTC will convene a workshop on equity and the utility planning process

The Utilities and Transportation Commission and the Department of Commerce will convene a joint workshop on Feb. 5, 2020. This workshop will focus on equity provisions in the transition to 100% clean electricity, and the equitable distribution of benefits in the utility planning process. Details will be provided later.